circular thinking

For most people apparently, design is a very logical process, as it is also commonly expounded and expressly delivered. This simple procedure it seems, equates to a very simple linear process. With me I prefer and gravitate towards a more circular method. A design can be conceived from looking at an idea from as many angles as possible, akin to looking or inspecting a sphere. By this method, any design is assessed and conceived for its value both schematically as well as from the point of its workability, concurrently and in parallel. An consideration or deliberation or an action is not followed nor processed linearly one after the other. All of the choices and possible options are engaged and presented and contemplated at the same time, at all scales of the project. I call this the spherical method.

the bone collector

The story of Barnum Brown never fails to inspire me. Not only did this man carry the weight of collecting million year old bones, he famously called them his children. We take our hat off to him for having developed a system akin to our modern day archiving methods. Many architects frown too quickly for a misplaced 2-day old document, but the young Barnum would go out of his way to make complete his paleontological find with such passion and determination that today, he would have quite easily made any one of us lame as anything.

footnote: Barnum Brown found the first bones of that thing we now call T-Rex, in 1902. Huat LIM

rocket man

The rocket man went all of the way to the moon and never got round to landing on the lunar surface for he has forgotten to bring the key. Alas, locked in his capsule, he could only return to Earth, to remind himself the virtues of a checklist, a simple device that would have made this historic journey more meaningful, prior to launching himself into space.

more stories on www.zlgdesign.com

architecture

there is a little problem I have to solve in my head, and that is that architecture is taking a bit too long to becoming like what good art is, generative and always assuming an emotive role. We have yet to connect to our buildings as easily as we do with things we adore, like our children or our books..

:huatlim

the elephant story

It was once said, there is not much point in describing an elephant to an Eskimo, one would rather bring the elephant to the Eskimo. One should never completely attempt to describe a piece of work, it would much rather be experienced.